ON PLANNED PARDON OF PRESIDENT ESTRADA
After
taking the high road in bringing former President Joseph Estrada to
trial and securing a conviction against him, the nation will be
retreating to international ridicule and disrespect by cravenly trying
to appease him with a presidential pardon - if certain officials and
politicians have their way.
The
judicial process regarding President Estrada is not yet over. Although
a guilty verdict has been handed down, he has the right to appeal it
before the Sandiganbayan and the Supreme Court. As he continues to
insist up to now, he is not guilty and the verdict against him was
unfair and unjust.
For the
Administration - or certain officials of the Administration - to be
offering at this time a presidential pardon is wrongheaded and contrary
to law. It took our justice system six years and considerable treasure
to try and resolve this case against President Estrada. Now, for the
sake of dubious political points, some would waive it all away.
This
is not the intent or spirit of the law, nor the meaning of justice
being tempered with mercy. The verdict must first be applied before any
idea of tempering it should be entertained. Above all, there must be
some sense of contrition or remorse on the part of the offender before
he can be considered eligible for pardon.
In
the history of the world, we find numerous examples of the honorable
course for a nation to follow in handling the celebrated cases of
former leaders and statesmen. That course is for the nation to be firm
and fair, and to pay decent regard not only for the opinion of its own
people but that of the international community as well. \u003cp style\u003d\”text-align:justify\”\>This\nis the course which Peru is now following in seeking justice against\nits former president Alberto Fujimori, after seven years of trying to\nrepatriate him. This is the course which Korea followed in trying and\nconvicting several of its former presidents. This is also the course\nthe Philippines has followed in bringing President Estrada to trial. We\nrisk the scorn of other nations if we just throw away the vindication\nwon at such great cost and effort.\u003c/p\>\n”,0]
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This
is the course which Peru is now following in seeking justice against
its former president Alberto Fujimori, after seven years of trying to
repatriate him. This is the course which Korea followed in trying and
convicting several of its former presidents. This is also the course
the Philippines has followed in bringing President Estrada to trial. We
risk the scorn of other nations if we just throw away the vindication
won at such great cost and effort.
